Posted June 2, 2006

Dreams Do Come True

Photos by Digital 219

Kyle Bartolini isn't the first kid who ever dreamed of riding an ATV. His parents aren't the first to use the promise of riding as a motivational tool.

But few people, of any age, ever had to fight so hard or overcome such painful obstacles to be able to do what we all enjoy and often take for granted: go for a ride on an ATV.

And a lot of good people along the way helped make it happen.

Several years ago, Kyle was a typical 3-year-old who loved hanging around his father, Mike Bartolini, when he was working on his ATV. But the Bartolinis' lives changed on Labor Day weekend in 2003, when they went with a friend to a get-together at another person's house.

Kyle found a loaded gun, and in a split second, his life changed forever. The bullet tore through his chest, damaging both his heart and his spinal cord.

Kyle barely survived. Doctors told Mike and Jamie Bartolini that their son would never walk, and would probably not even be able to sit up on his own or speak. He was classified a quadriplegic.

Kyle's story came to the attention of ATVA Director Doug Morris a couple years ago at the ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship Motocross Series round at the Red Bud Competition Park in Buchanan, Michigan. Mike told Doug how Kyle would love to meet his racing heroes, especially Tim Farr, and Doug made it happen.

The racers instantly pitched in, letting Kyle sit on their race machines, and giving him autographed hats and jerseys.

At one point, Mike lamented to Doug that Kyle would never get his wish to ride an ATV of his own. Lots of people, looking at Kyle, would have thought the same. Not only was his lower body paralyzed, but the spinal cord damage had eliminated much of his control of his upper body. His hands were clenched and nearly useless.

Still, Doug encouraged Mike to hold on to the ``never give up'' attitude the family had adopted since Kyle's accident.

``If you can improve his upper body strength, there's no reason he can't ride,'' Doug said.

But the turning point came later in the year when the Bartolinis saw a television show about spinal cord research that described an intense form of therapy being practiced at just a few locations.

Jamie Bartolini called the University of Florida, and although the program was intended for adults only, through her persistence she convinced them to work with Kyle.

Then, Kyle and his family headed to Florida. The intense, daily sessions would try the perseverance of any adult. Kyle, just 4 years old, began the regimen.

The early sessions resulted in no progress. The Bartolinis even began to doubt their decision.

That was when they turned to Kyle's love of ATVs to help motivate him.

``If you go in there and work really hard, when you learn to walk again, we'll get you a quad,'' his father told Kyle.

They even visited a dealership and let him sit on an ATV and try on gear.

As Kyle struggled through the therapy, he was motivated by photos from that visit to the dealership, and posters of his racing heroes.

Eventually, Kyle took that first step. Then a few more. Today, he can walk with the help of a walker, and he has regained enough fine motor control to be able to draw with ordinary pencils, eat with regular utensils and support himself.

"Kyle has worked very hard to learn to walk again and has only asked for one thing in return—a quad," said his mother, Jamie. "His motivation has been dreaming of himself riding."

Then, Kyle returned to Red Bud to see his favorite racers on the track again. He had done what was asked of him, so it was time to give him, in return, what he had asked for.

Thanks to generous people in the ATV racing community, the plan came together easily, Morris said. Justin Hall, president of Dinli, stepped up and donated a 50cc quad. The pro racers autographed it.

Moose kicked in a full set of riding gear, and Sims Racing donated a helmet and goggles.

In front of hundreds of people at Red Bud, Kyle was given his new ATV and gear. To say it was a 5-year-old boy's dream come true is to state a simple fact.

"We were only able to get him off it twice at Red Bud," said Jamie. "It's exactly what he wanted and having all the pros sign it made it even more special. Dinli really stepped up to the plate and made Kyle's dream come true."

Jamie noted that Kyle loves to show people his collection of photos with himself and his favorite racers, and asked them never to forget how important their motivation can be.

"A two-minute conversation can make a huge difference in a kid's life,'' she said. ``Thank you for being great role models for our children."

She also sent a special thanks to Doug Morris, both for the special presentation at Red Bud and for his encouragement.

"Last year at Red Bud, Mike expressed feelings of hopelessness," she told Doug. "You reassured him that disability or no disability, Kyle would ride. You were true to your word."

Kyle still has a long way to go, much difficult work and pain ahead. But as his mother said, "We've been down a long, desperate road, but we haven't walked alone."

Thanks to some good people who ride ATVs.

© 2006, All Terrain Vehicle Association